Broadmoor Hospital

[Phil Goater]

One of my less illustrious relations, Josiah Parker, butcher of Croscombe, is listed at the age of 61 as being resident in the newly opened Broadmoor criminal lunatic asylum, Sandhurst, Berkshire, in the 1871 census. Can anyone advise me if there would be any way of finding out his diagnosis and the crime that led him to be there?

Phil

[bearkat]

Looking at The Times digital archives he could have murdered his wife!

[bearkat]

3rd April 1857
Josiah PARKER , a butcher, of Wells was indicted for the wilful muder of his wife Ann aged 40.  She went to his butcher's shop to ask for some veal cutlets and he struck her on the head with a chopper.

He was found not guilty on the grounds of insanity and detained at Her Majesty's pleasure.

[behindthefrogs]

bearcat has partly answered your question.  Since Broadmoor served London and most of the south of England you need to find where he committed his crime and where he was tried.  Failing anything else the local paper for the area where he lived will certainly contain details of any trial and sentence.  Juicey ones were reported in depth in the Times and there is often very full reporting of the varius stages of the trial.

I have some thirty A4 sheets transcribed from the Times of a murder in which one of my ancestors was a minor witness but which contains a lot of detail about him, his job and working relationship to the victim.

David

[Phil Goater]

Thank you very much bearkat and David. That was a speedy response - I'd only just finished posting a message for information on the Somerset board and you'd already answered it!

How can I access the Times digital records and are there any medical records from Broadmoor?

Regards,
Phil
 

[bearkat]

I would have thought you would need to contact Berkshire Records ofiice to see if they hold any records for Broadmoor.

[Little Nell]

Hi Phil,

There are medical records, but I think you will find that they are sealed/closed.  We've had a few enquiries about this sort of thing before.

see this thread:

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,145325.msg662371.html#msg662371

and this one:
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,101802.0.html

Nell

[avm228]

How can I access the Times digital records and are there any medical records from Broadmoor?

I recommend Bedfordshire Virtual Library for the (excellent) Times Digital Archive - go to http://www.galaxy.bedfordshire.gov.uk/ and follow directions & instructions for the virtual library.  Good luck 

I had a look at your ancestor's report in the 3 April 1857 edition - fascinating!  It looks as though there was a history of mental illness in his family.

Anna

[suzard]

Think I may have found some of the children?
1861
Town St Shepton mallet
Thomas Parker 40 Butcher and Spririt dealer Croscombe
Anna wife 40
mary E 19
Annie 16
Thomas 12
Edwin 11
Arthur 9
William 7
Tom nephew 17 Shopman
Rose A Bolton servant W 40 Somerset
RG19 166180 13


Edwin (from family above) appears living with frank and wife in later census (described as cousin)

Have to rush out -will post later tonight with other info on children if you require it?

Was there a daughter Sylvia Ann b. abt 1851/2??

Suz